—-I had so many ideas and any story can go so many different directions. I may have started with an idea of where the article would begin and end, but as I write, I know I need to focus in on just one idea instead of SeeSAW or Jessica or Green Truck, etc. I have decided to make this article ONLY about yarn bombing…Where yarn bombing originated from, history of it in savannah and then our exact mission.

I’m also wondering if I can find some useful words concerning yarn, yarn bombing from other articles on the web. I don’t know exact terms, so this would be part of the research.

Second rough and tumble draft:

Under the moonlight, equipped with doughnuts, twine, and pre-made 9×9 vibrant crochet squares, you could see knitters delightfully attaching their creations to old signs and bike racks.

The top secret location had just been revealed 23 hours ago at the local coffee shop. The yarn bombing team united for the last time at Green Truck Pub in downtown Savannah at 6am. This particular yarn bombing was the brainchild of Jessica Leigh Lebos, writer and public art enthusiast.

“I knew if I ever had the chance, I would do a yarn bombing.” Lebos said “I’m very passionate about public art.”

Public art is always the topic with Matt Hebermehl who first approached Lebos with a space for her to use to her liking. Hebermehl and his collaborator, James “DrZ” Zdaniewski cofouned the art organization called See Savannah Art Walls or SeeSAW for short and are the sole reason public art is permitted in Savannah. SeeSAW worked with Metropolitan Planning Commission to create a mural ordinance and policy. The mural policy was approved in late 2011 and under that policy, SeeSAW successfully petitioned for a designated mural wall at 34th and Habersham Street.

People often locate Habermehl when they have an open spot on their property that they would like to display public art and Lebos was more than happy to take over and facilitate her ideas.

After the preliminaries of locations and logistics were in place, Lobos began her quests to find knitters keen to her idea.

“I am actually the world’s worst knitter. That’s what makes this project so amazing,” Lebos said

“It’s amazing what happens when one person inspires others to come together and create!” Star Kowtoski, owner of ART POP Balloons said.

The act of crocheting and knitting unexpected pieces for public display has been coloring the city streets for about a decade. yarn bombing is a type of public art that involves covering anything from trees to telephone poles.

The New York Times read, “Yarn bombing takes that most matronly craft (knitting) and the most maternal of gestures (wrapping something cold in a warm blanket) and transfers it to the concrete and steel wilds of urban streetscape.”

Considered by many to be the mother of yarn bombing ,Magda Sayeg, says it started on a slow, drab day in 2005 at her shop in Houston. She knitted a blue-and-pink cozy for the shop’s door handle and it grabbed people’s attention. Fast-forward seven years and Sayeg is still at it, but with more ambitious projects that included covering buses and cars with yarn.

In 2009 with the publication of the book “Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti,” by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain, knitters from Vancouver, Canada , the public art of yarn bombing quickly found its niche all around the world.

The Andy Warhol Bridge, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is considered the largest yarn bombings in the US. The bridge received a knitted makeover with more than 1,800 knitters and 600 colorful blankets of city landmarks showcasing knitted or crocheted masterpieces. When the public art was removed, the blankets were given a fresh wash and then were donated to different charities around the community.

“When you are out and you see some something unexpected on a wall, it makes you think differently about where you live. Makes you think they are mischievous people out there that want to take life creatively.”